Alex Caruso returned to the OKC Thunder as a piece that could elevate the team to a title-favorite level. From being one of the players in OKC Blue, the Thunder’s G-League team, to being a key bench contributor in the Los Angeles Lakers’s championship team, Caruso has proven his worth in all levels of the NBA sphere.
It was a win-now move for Sam Presti and co., who are just coming off a second-round exit after being the number-one seed in the Western Conference. Along with signing Isaiah Hartenstein, the Thunder positioned themselves to realistically contend next year and break their glass ceiling as a team.
Caruso is a Swiss Army Knife on the court and often does the dirty work for the team. He is a piece that any contending team would want in their rotation.
The Thunder, with their history of superb leadership and organization, may have hit the jackpot by trading Josh Giddey, a disgruntled young star who was in need of a fresh new environment, for Caruso, who is a veteran and championship material player.
Even Presti praised Caruso’s ethos for the team, saying: “Alex Caruso is a player we have always highly valued and followed. He is the quintessential Thunder player; he is an exceptional competitor and teammate with a multi-dimensional skillset. His presence and game will help elevate the core of our team as we continue to strive to build a sustainably elite program in Oklahoma City.”
Caruso will help the Thunder in more aspects than we might even realize. Here are some ways the wing can help them reach the NBA Championship.